About the Company

PANIQ ROOM was established in 2014 by Akos Gabossy and his partners, becoming one of the earliest and most reputable escape room brands in the industry. The company specializes in creating immersive, themed escape rooms designed to challenge and entertain participants through puzzles and problem-solving tasks. Over the years, PANIQ ROOM has expanded to 20 locations, with plans to open more in the coming years, aiming to attract over 400,000 players annually.

The escape rooms offered by PANIQ ROOM are crafted to provide a unique and thrilling experience, resembling movie sets and allowing players to feel part of an adventurous storyline. The brand has built a strong reputation by focusing on quality, creativity, and customer satisfaction, positioning itself as a leader in the location-based entertainment industry.

Idea Behind Company

The inspiration for PANIQ ROOM came from Akos Gabossy's exposure to entertainment businesses during his time in the United States as a foreign exchange student. After returning to Hungary and engaging in various successful ventures, including real estate and adventure parks, Gabossy became intrigued by the emerging popularity of escape rooms in Budapest.

Recognizing the potential of escape rooms as a powerful and innovative form of entertainment, Gabossy and his partners decided to bring the concept to the U.S. Their vision was to create more immersive and interactive escape rooms compared to those in Hungary, which were often lacking in immersion and quality. They aimed to offer experiences that would captivate a wide audience by making players feel like they were part of a thrilling adventure.

Creating the Company

From the beginning, the founders of PANIQ ROOM had the ambition to create an international brand that could eventually be sold. This vision influenced many of their strategic decisions, including significant investments in intellectual property protection, website development, and brand marketing. The company initially opened several standalone stores in the U.S. before officially becoming a franchise brand in 2017.

Securing proper bank financing was challenging for the founders, who relied on their savings and later raised over $7 million from a European venture capital firm. The company adopted a hybrid expansion model, opening corporate stores while also franchising the brand. Finding the right individuals to manage the stores and collaborate on new projects was another challenge, but the team remained focused on building a strong back-office team to support operations and expansion.

PANIQ ROOM's strategy of blending corporate ownership with franchising has allowed the company to grow rapidly while maintaining control over its brand and quality. The company continues to seek out flexible individuals capable of handling multiple responsibilities, ensuring that each new location meets the high standards set by the brand.

Launching the Business

Vitaly launched ReviewsOnMyWebsite by offering a free plan alongside two paid options priced at $5 and $15 per month. This pricing strategy was designed to attract a wide range of users, including those looking for a low-cost solution. To promote the platform, Vitaly leveraged blog posts that discussed outdated methods of embedding Google reviews. He engaged with commenters and blog authors, providing them with information about his new service.

This grassroots marketing approach quickly paid off, as Vitaly secured his first two paying customers within a week of launching the website. Over time, the platform’s “powered by” link on free widgets helped generate organic traffic and backlinks, which contributed to higher search engine rankings and increased visibility.

In addition to organic growth, Vitaly began experimenting with paid ads on Google, although this strategy was initially delayed due to the low price of the service. However, as the platform expanded its offerings to include more comprehensive reputation management tools, Vitaly reinvested revenue into marketing to scale the business further.

Earnings

As of today, PANIQ ROOM generates approximately $12 million annually, with 20 locations in operation and 8 more set to open in 2023. The company has set its sights on reaching 30 locations by 2024, with a goal of generating over $15 million in revenue and attracting more than 400,000 players annually.

In addition to expanding its physical locations, PANIQ ROOM has invested in Indestroom, the world’s largest escape room supplier. This investment provides the company with in-house production capabilities, allowing for greater innovation and unique puzzle designs, which are crucial to the brand's success. PANIQ ROOM has also pursued growth through acquisitions, rebranding existing escape rooms to quickly expand its footprint while minimizing risks.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and economic fluctuations, PANIQ ROOM has managed to navigate these difficulties and continues to grow. The company remains focused on its long-term goal of becoming the largest escape room brand globally, leveraging its strong brand, innovative approach, and strategic expansion plans to achieve this ambition.